Thursday, February 21, 2013

New England Boat Show

Constitution Marina Booth
View from Constitution Marina Booth
On Wednesday, 2/20 I was at the Constitution Marina  booth at the New England Boat Show again. It was reasonably busy between 5 and 7 pm then it dwindled out. Fortunately, Walter Hope's booth with the Friends of Boston Harbor Islands is right across, so we keep on visiting each other to chat. Towards the end of the show I checked out a Hanse 41 that was straight across from my booth. Looks pretty but I am spoiled with Waterdancer, so I was not very impressed. The winches heads, and the galley fridge were significantly  smaller.

Steve, Walter and Rab from the
Friends of Boston Harbor Islands
The industry in general is in a big lull. From what I am hearing, it appears that they will do about 1/4 th of the business they did last year. I know that the economy is not the greatest, but I am not sure why there is such a significant difference. Is it the weather ?
I will be pulling 2 more stints, one on Friday Evening and the other one on Sunday 11-2


There is supposed to be more snow on Sunday, so that should be interesting.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Another Snow Day


Roots, Gremlin's Hammer, Just Married as seen frm Waterdancer,

The docks are getting white
Mystery furry creature in a winter day

Thank You Constitution Marina for covering the walkways to the ramps.
There is a gale warning out there, and we are having another Noreaster. Partially due to the windage from the shrinkwrap, we are rocking an rolling around slightly.

Constitution Marina is fairly well protected, and even in the worst storms, it does not get too uncomfortable.

Today is a good day to stay home and go through Netflix, perhaps fix
up our blog a little











Mystery revealed. (aka furry creature hears galley sounds)






Boat Show and Rudy's Cafe

New the New England Boat Show has started, and I will be at the Constitution Marina booth today Saturday 3 to 7,  Wednesday and Friday 5-9 and Sunday 11 to 2. Come on by and say hello.
boat show page


After the show we went with the crew of Gremlins Hammer and Just Married to a lovely Mexican Restauran called   Rudy's (link)   at 248 Holland st in Somerville. It is actually a tequila bar. They have all kinds of different Tequilas, and good mexican food. Like most of the places, the prices were reasonable. 

Friday, February 15, 2013

Friday Pool Party

Glenwood hot springs.

So, like every Friday evening, we had the pool party tonight. It was a pretty crowded pool, but who can resist a 100 degree pool in the middle of the winter. Something like the Glenwood hot springs but a little bit closer to home..


Here to the right is actually our pool in the summer time. Without the bubble tent that covers it for winter swimming.




This year we have several new liveaboards, joining the life style. B an L have actually the the identical boat that we started up with, a 1984 Catalina 36. Perfect affordable liveaboard for a couple that can take you to places with reasonable safety

I also met at the pool a lovely couple who unfortunately will be venturing south,  They have a great Blog so we are hoping to stay in touch.

They also inspired me to get going with my blog

After the pool, as usual we had a after-pool party at S/V Emeraude, the Irwin 41 that appears on this blog occasionally.
B and L were there and he had a hilarious t-shirt on that I had to just take their picture

Now here is a happy couple that knows how to enjoy life. Sorry guys I just had to post this picture !



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

2013 January, February

View of the Zakim Bridge and Boston Garden from the dogwalk
So 2013 is here, and we are already in the middle of February. Life has been quiet, We feel closer to our Constitution Marina friends than we have ever felt before, It almost feels like being away for 6 months and then coming back reinforces this camaraderie.
Paul and Elisabeth are next door this year, and have provided us with Cable TV.
Watching Television and movies seems to be a large part of our lives in the winter time. Likewise getting together with friends and enjoying the time together. There is not much else to do in the winter.
If one is motivated enough, some small maintenance jobs could be performed, but I just don't seem to get myself around to do it.
We have a strange schedule. Danielle works 3 to 9, I week, relatively flexible daytime hours, which becomes  10 to 7. So we eat Dinners at 10-11 pm, spend some time together.
Danielle is running around all day, whereas I am sitting on my desk all day.

Through this winter we went through Hurricane Sandy, where we all had to evacuate to the hotel next door, then through the Blizzard of 2013 (Nemo)  and various other storms before.
I have the whaler in the water, so we have used it to go places in Boston, of course not as much as I wanted to.
Right now we are in the midst of February, buried in the cold and the snow.


The Coocking Grills were all showed in, so Paul opened up one of the so we could grill


But the grilled swordfish is definitely worth it !



Walking he dogs at nights gives us all some exercide. Here are Danielle, Sailor and Sammy
The View from Constitution Marina into Boston is spectacular
Downtown Boston from the Marina 


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Blizzard of 2003 .. NEMO !

Nemo came with big fanfare. It started snowing, in the evening, and it snowed and snowed and snowed. 

The Marina Crew was up all night plowing the gangways while we shamelessly enjoyed the hot pool. Next day, the dinghy was totally covered, and it was still snowing.

We spent pretty much most of the storm in each others boats having potluck parties. E, who is pregnant, very very pregnant, decided that she needed exercise. So what better exercise than go out and showel the cars out !


So, she put the group to work, and within an hour all our cars were showeled out. I did not even realize it until L came over and asked me for the car keys so they could drive the cars out.
A lot of snow, but it is free !!!
So I joined the group, When they started up, only the windshield wipers were visible.
Next day, I shoveled out the Dinghy and took her out into the harbor, I took some pictures of the boats, and a view of the Marina. It was actually a beautiful sunny day.
Leave it to the dog to find the one sunny spot in the boat !


A view of the marina from the entrance

E dock and the Marriott from the outside

The Zakim Bridge, Constitution Marina and the Marriott



End of D dock, M&D

Creeky was totally covered under a snow blanket



And for the Swans, it was just another day in the water